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Poker Blog established in 2003 as the first stop for poker news, poker stories, and bad poker advice.

November 28, 2006

Laying down aces

by Otis

I do not write strategy posts. I do not write theory posts. I write stories. I do this because, despite the fun I have playing poker, I'm better at telling stories than explaining how I play or offering helpful advice to people looking to improve their game. With that disclaimer, the past six weeks have been pretty interesting. I've laid down pocket aces three times on the flop. As each of the laydowns have resulted in hours of post-hand analysis, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I'm not looking for a pat on the back. I'm just curious.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Poker Theory

November 26, 2006

Thank You (Warning : Not a damn thing to do with poker)

by G-Rob

I haven't played poker, in any form, in more than a week. It's strange and sad. I haven't gone more than a week without a game in more than a year. Short breaks are good for the game and better for the mind. But, usually, I'm so addicted to the action and the companionship of my fellow players, I can't stay off the felt.

Last week, I came to appreciate those friends a little more. I'm far more thankful for the company of my wife. I'm pretty goddamn lucky to have 2 kids.

To be fair, my beloved blog readers, this post isn't really for you as much as it's just for me. At the same time, it is an attempt to thank you all, so if you don't make it to the end....

Thanks.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

November 25, 2006

Poker at the Golden Moon -- A Review

by Otis

The stretch of two-lane highway rambled through a desolate part of Mississippi. Six months earlier, the road tar bubbled and the summer heat shimmered over the asphalt. On this day, though, it was a mere 70 degrees in late November and the roadside Native American child in her diaper wasn't at all cold.

This was Choctaw country, the road into Philadelphia, the highway through Neshoba County. For the past forty years, this county was famous for the civil rights era deaths of three social workers. You know about it because of Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe or the countless other movies made about the bad old days in Mississippi.

Now, the Choctaw run the show an the Klan is nowhere to be seen.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | B&M Poker

November 22, 2006

Back to the Final Table(s)

by Luckbox

I only sucked out once, I swear.

Short-stacked, and late in the WWdN, I pushed from late position with A9o. Yeah, I know it was marginal, but the table was playing rather tight, and most preflop raises were unopposed.

This one wasn't. My opponent flipped AQ and, as I often find myself, I was dominated. Not that I was too worried.

"9," I typed in the chat window. The river obliged.

"It's what I do."

By the end of the night, I had finished 5th in the WWdN and 3rd in the WWdN 2nd Chance. I think that's an unprecedented double cash, but I could be wrong. I just like writing things that make me sound good at poker.

Exhausted from my marathon play, including some double-tabling, I still decided to give YoYo a shot at me heads up well past my bed time. I dominated play, but then things got a little hazy. I think she pulled four consecutive one-outers, before sucking out with a gutshot to the nuts. She now leads the best-of-9 series 4-3. I'll have to win the next two to take the crown. Don't worry, I play better from behind.

Permalink | Tournament Action

November 19, 2006

Luck Be a Lady

by Luckbox

About half the 90-person field was gone by now. My stack was just below average and I was playing a solid but unspectacular game. Frankly, I haven't been playing all that much, so perhaps the $50 buy-in wasn't the best idea, but these 90-person SNGs aren't the toughest fields in the world.

Dealt A9s in the BB, a rather aggressive player raised 3xBB. I called, hoping for a favorable flop. I'd say the AJ9 flop was favorable. I knew exactly what he'd do, so I just checked. Predictably, he fired out a pot-sized bet. I re-raised all-in and he called shortly after his time clock started counting down.

He showed KQo.

I can't believe I started my first poker post in more than a month with a bad beat story. I just wish the ten had come on the turn, then I'd have been able to re-suck.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Luckbox's Thoughts

November 16, 2006

Iggy's long demise

by Otis

Dr. Joseph Dolan: You know, it's a shame about Ed.
Fletch: Oh, it was. Yeah, it was really a shame. To go so suddenly like that.
Dr. Joseph Dolan: He was dying for years.
Fletch: Sure, but... the end was very... very sudden.
Dr. Joseph Dolan: He was in intensive care for eight weeks.
Fletch: Yeah, but I mean the very end, when he actually died. That was extremely sudden.

--"Fletch"

I was more than sincere in my writing yesterday, and I'll admit it was inspired by Iggy's decision to do whatever it is he's doing. That said, I think some folks are taking this a little far. If you haven't seen it, I'll let you decide. (Via You Tube, so RSS folks will have to click through. Sorry).


Permalink | Poker Blogs

November 15, 2006

A Drunkard's Dream

by Otis

It was never my intention to become a regular at the bar of a chain Chinese restaurant. It was never my intention to spend one night out of every week bellied up to said bar, drinking from a stemmed glass, and talking poker with my friends. Still, that's where I find myself once a week and that's where I found myself last night.

Blood and I were involved in one of a few discussions we'd have over the next eight hours and he was insisting I had done or said something many months ago that I was pretty sure I had not. Finally, he convinced me and I could only respond, "I don't remember the last year of my life."

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Otis' Thoughts

November 13, 2006

Heavy Things

by G-Rob

My wife used to say of the silly problems her suburban houswives friends would bear, "Everyone has problems, and everyone's problems are big."

I always thought that was silly.

I mean, there are people who have REAL problems. I grew so agitaited with the presumption that everyone's problems have the same import that she withdrew the argument. We rarely discuss the little problems anymore.

That said, problems are universal. It's funny that, as a relatively young man, I'm already concerned with the brevity of life. Like all men, my greatest fantasy is a life free of problems big and small. A life of true freedom.

But it's the problems that keep us alive.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

November 12, 2006

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

by Luckbox

I've been lax in my promotion, but you still have a half hour to sign up for the latest WPBT Circuit Event!!!

It's EEEEEEEEEEEE for Stud Hi/Lo (that's Stud Eight, the last game in HORSE).

It's 9pm ET on PokerStars. The password is wpbt72. Get in the game! You still have time to donate your money to Heather!

Permalink | Tournament Action

November 11, 2006

Yes, I found this semi-funny

by G-Rob

A promotional video from the people at Ultimate Bet.

[Ed. note: Link should work. For some reason, the direct link doesn't work. In fact, UB's website is a little funky there. When it's back, I'll relink it.]

Permalink | Online Poker

November 10, 2006

The Awesome Power of Idiots

by G-Rob

If you've never been to South Carolina, here's a quick tip: Don't be a democrat.

I covered the statewide elections on Tuesday, live at the Democrat's campaign headquarters, across the street from the Capitol. Unlike the elephants, who spread all over town, the democrats all meet under a single roof at the Clarion hotel. The building used to be the headquarters of General Sherman, right after he burned the old Capitol to the ground.

It hasn't hosted a winner since.

The AP called the Governor's race for the incumbant Republican at about 9:30. Minutes later I went into the men's room and found a grown man sobbing, wailing, in one of the stalls. I went back to the ballroom where the DJ had stopped the music and no one was talking except for the hushed mumbles of people who felt they really SHOULDN'T be talking.

The thing is, their candidate was trailing by 25 points in every poll for months before the ballots were cast. Turnout was huge. And their guy lost by only 10. Were they really that surprised? Did they really think they'd win?

State of Denial indeed.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

November 8, 2006

Jim Leach, UIGEA architect, ousted from Congress

by Otis

I'm too tired to fully explain how happy this makes me. Suffice it to say, after serving fifteen terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, the man who once said of Internet gaming, "You just click the mouse and lose your house," is now going to have to figure out what to do with his life.

In a race that Republicans ignored because they didn't think it could be lost, in a race the national media ignored because they didn't see it as a potential pick-up for Democrats, in a race that even the candidate didn't think he could lose, Rep. James Leach (R-IA) lost his seat to a guy named Loebsack.

Damned right. Jim Leach got Loebsacked.

There's a part of me that wonders if we could've held UIGEA at bay for a few more months. If we had, we might never have seen it. Bill Frist needed Jim Leach to win the Republican Presidential Caucuses in Iowa. Leach wanted his bill passed. Now, Leach has been Loebsacked. I regret voters couldn't turn out to knock off Senator John Kyl. For now, I'll have to be happy about Leach looking for a job.

Karma, bitches.

Permalink | Poker Law and Legal News

November 7, 2006

Election Day

by Luckbox

I'm live-blogging my election day over at Up For Anything.

Otis is live-blogging his election day over at Rapid Eye Reality.

And, who knows, maybe G-Rob will grace us with some of his thoughts right here!

Permalink | Luckbox's Thoughts

November 5, 2006

Up For Poker's NFL Humiliation Challenge

by Otis

Updated with ongoing results

G-Rob threw down the gauntlet yesterday and decided to put his beloved flipping penny up against Luckbox and BG in picking the NFL games. I decided his methods were far too scientific to properly humiliate the sportsbettting side of UFP. With that said, we offer you this week's UFP NFL Humiliation Challenge.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Other Gambling

November 4, 2006

The Pick 6 Picks

by Luckbox

First, let me thank our investors: Me, Boy Genius, Absinthe, Falstaff, Gracie, April, Joanne, Imperfect, ToddCommish, FTrain, GRob, Otis, JoeSpeaker, AlCantHang, bobby (Run Em Twice), F%$^ the River, Jen, Lefty, Dad, 23skidoo, Iggy, Scurvydog, PokerWolf, Drizz, Meek, Bobby Bracelet, WillyWise, Royal and Donkeypuncher.

Second, let me warn you that we've done things a little differently this time. Instead of playing one big ticket that would cost almost $1300, we've played five separate tickets all centered around a solid base ticket that BG and I are both big fans of.

Without further ado, the picks:

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Betting the Ponies

Why Sports Betting is Unwise

by G-Rob

So let me start by saying, yes, I've invested in the "Wacky Pick 6" ordeal. I have some degree of faith in the horse picking acumen of BG and Luckbox. But nobody, not even those with initials for names can outpick me (I use an initial AND a name) in football.

Observe...

(Ed. note: Luckbox's picks are now added. And there are other "initial-names" I can think of, like F-You A-Hole.)

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Other Gambling

November 1, 2006

Ultra Pick 6 Time!

by Luckbox

It may be the most wagered Pick 6 in horse racing. It's, perhaps, the biggest day in horse racing. Each Triple Crown race may be a big deal, but the Breeders Cup race card is stacked from top to bottom. The best horses in the world come to run.

And this weekend, Boy Genius and I are ready to put our handicapping skills to the test. Many of you have stepped up to invest in our Pick 6 efforts in the past. Back on Sept. 1st, we were edged twice out of 6 races. Then, on the next day, we hit five out of six, missing the Pick 6 literally by a nose to the longest shot on the board. For our efforts that day, we won $756.

So, for Saturday, we've already got $756 to play with, and these investors are already in for a full share: Me, Boy Genius, Absinthe, Falstaff, Gracie, April, Joanne, Imperfect, ToddCommish, FTrain, GRob, Otis, JoeSpeaker, AlCantHang, bobby (Run Em Twice), F%$^ the River, Jen, Lefty, Dad.

However, there is still time for you to get on board. Boy Genius and I need to know by Friday night at 8pm CT if you'd like to invest. It only costs you $50. It's that simple. If you want in, just leave a comment or send me an email. I'll let you know how to settle up. And if you have any questions, you know where to find me!

Permalink | Betting the Ponies